Ceramic facets are dental and aesthetic works made of ceramic and indicated to repair damage in patients who have stained teeth, with inadequate shape, unwanted color, size.
The technique is also often used to correct the position of the teeth. That is, dental ceramic facets are indicated for almost all needs to change the aesthetics of the teeth.
Ceramic veneers are placed only on the front teeth. But in some situations, the premolars can contrast with the placed veneers. In these cases, we extend it to the premolars.
The same must be observed with the lower teeth. If the upper ones are going to be light and the lower ones are dark, it would be ideal to carry out the procedure also on the teeth in the lower region, so that when the upper ones are close to the lower ones, there is no noticeable difference in color.
What material is used to apply the ceramic facets?
The material currently used is lithium disilicate. One of the great advances that occurred in veneers, in addition to the material itself, were the products for bonding the pieces. Bonding agents between teeth and lithium disilicate are extremely efficient, which gives professionals and patients a lot of security.
How is the tooth prepared for the placement of dental ceramic facets?
In general, the patient goes to the office for the first consultation, where a general assessment of the mouth is carried out. An impression is then taken, which can be done through a mouth scanner or through the traditional method. The necessary changes to the teeth are made using a computer program or by the prosthetist, who makes the teeth in wax.
If the mold is made by the prosthetic, we copy the teeth in wax and reproduce them in bisacrylic resin in the mouth. Or, if performed using a mouth scanner, we make the dental changes on the computer.
Then, the professional talks to the patient about the color, shape, size and position of the teeth. All completed, we send the model to the prosthetist and it is manually reproduced or we send the assembly performed by the mouth scanner to a milling machine and this does in the smallest details what was planned.
How are dental ceramic facets applied?
After the ceramic facets are ready, comes the placement phase. A good recommendation is that the dentist perform a test together with the patient to see if the ceramic veneers are in good condition.
When placing the ceramic facets, it is necessary to apply light to moderate wear on the buccal region of the tooth (at the front). style="font-size: 12pt;">If the case required deeper preparations, which reached the dentin, the ideal thing is to anesthetize to avoid any type of discomfort. This is because one of the products used to prepare the tooth to receive the resin that will unite the ceramic is lithium disilicate, which, being acidic, can cause discomfort in more sensitive teeth. This way, the dentist can work more comfortably, without the patient moving around or enduring a little pain.
In general, the process of placing ceramic facets is done in stages. In summary, it takes one session to make the teeth in bis-acrylic resin and see if the patient likes it. Then, a new appointment to prepare and shape the teeth, regardless of which method is used. And a consultation to try on the lithium disilicate teeth.
Everything resolved, the prosthetist makes the necessary changes and at the next consultation the veneers are placed, with the certainty that it is exactly what we wanted from the beginning.
How to take care of dental ceramic facets?
As with any dental treatment, maintenance is required. The most cost-effective way to keep your jobs in great health and by visiting from time to time the professional who carried out the work.
How long do dental ceramic facets last?
Veneers last for many years because they are so closely bonded to the teeth. I often say that it's more like fracturing the tooth than removing the veneer.
However, it can happen that the gum rises over the years and you need to change the work to maintain the aesthetics of the tooth. In addition, there may be some failure in cementation, adaptation, or some places start to stain. However, these are problems with little incidence in careful dentists.
What is the difference between dental ceramic facets and dental contact lenses?
In the past, dental ceramic facets were made with a type of ceramic that did not have much resistance and ran the risk of fracture. For this reason, it was not possible to make fine teeth with this material, as the veneer had to be thick enough to avoid fracture.
Current facets are made with lithium disilicate, which has the same characteristics as ceramics, but is extremely resistant to fracture. And with the new materials for bonding the veneer to the tooth, it never comes loose, except for cementation failure. As it is very resistant, you can make extremely thin dental ceramic facets, the so-called contact lenses.